ACO makes a splash at Australasian Emergency Service Games
April 14, 2025in News
Mount Beauty Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) Tania Northey proved she’s a force to be reckoned with in the pool, after cleaning up at the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games last month.
Tania competed in 12 events at the competition in Hobart, taking home an impressive 10 gold medals and two bronze medals.
Having a go at every stroke, her pool events included 50 metres and 100m backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, the 250m freestyle, as well as 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley.
Tania also competed in two relay events alongside emergency service workers from SES, CFA, Water Police and Australian Border Force, where the team earned the bronze medals.
Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) Tania Northey with her medals from the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games.
She also tried something new, competing in her first 1500m open water swim in Tiger Head Bay, where she walked away with another gold.
“This was my first time competing at the Australasian Games and I was really happy with the way I did,” Tania said.
“The open water swim was alongside the Tasmanian Ocean Water Swim Series so it made it a very special experience.
“It just shows what can happen when you have a crack.”
While she is an avid swimmer now, that hasn’t always been the case, with Tania finding her love for the pool in her 40’s.
Having now competed in five Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games and one Australasian, Tania hopes to encourage other emergency service workers to give it a go.
“The coming together of emergency service workers in the spirit of friendly competition is a brilliant thing,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity for people with similar interests to gather, get away from work and achieve some of their personal goals. It’s fantastic for physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“Everyone is super friendly, there for a nice time and to meet people. You don’t have to be a star at what you do, it’s just about showing up.”
Over 2200 people competed in about 60 sports at the event in Hobart.
Tania’s next goal is to compete in the World Police and Fire Games in Perth in 2027.